- Single mom, Genesis, quit gig driving for Uber and Lyft to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, but was only able to take home a fifth of her gross earnings in 2022.
- Genesis moved from Florida to Georgia for better work opportunities and a lower cost of living, but still struggles to afford her rent.
- Many single parents turning to gig driving are finding it difficult to make enough money and are forced to look for other industries.
Additional Coverage:
- Meet a single mom who quit driving for Uber and Lyft after she made $103,000 in 2022 but only took home $19,000 (businessinsider.com)
Genesis, a single mom, decided to quit gig driving for Uber and Lyft to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She was only able to take home a fifth of her gross earnings of $103,000 in 2022. Genesis moved from Florida to Georgia in 2019 for better work opportunities and a lower cost of living, but she still struggles to afford her rent.
Genesis started driving in 2018 and found it to be profitable, so she moved to Atlanta in 2019 to pursue her career in the entertainment industry. She also believed it would be a better city for raising her kids. However, driving became more difficult for her as she made less per ride and faced increased competition. She even tried Uber’s rental program, which was not profitable for her.
After taking home only $19,000 in 2022, Genesis decided to quit gig driving. She felt that Uber and Lyft took more than 35% of her earnings with nothing to show for it. Many single parents, like Genesis, are turning to gig driving to earn money and create flexible schedules, but they are finding it difficult to make enough and are forced to look for other industries.
Genesis was tired of her 9-to-5 job, as it didn’t fit her schedule or pay enough. In 2018, she started gig driving and found it lucrative. She moved from Orlando to Atlanta, where she could pursue her passion for the entertainment industry while driving part-time. The cost of living in Atlanta was lower, and she found a more affordable place to live.
During the pandemic, rides were slow at first, but eventually picked up. Genesis made good money from higher-paying rides and even participated in a trial phase that paid drivers hourly. However, it became challenging to find higher-paying rides, and she often earned around $100 a day after expenses. She decided to quit after her car’s engine broke down and she couldn’t afford a new one.
Now, Genesis is working in the entertainment industry as a staffing solutions person and is searching for work as a film production assistant. She has struggled to make ends meet with gig driving and feels that the system is flawed. She is also being forced to move due to skyrocketing rent.
Genesis is keeping an eye on new rideshare platforms that pay drivers a higher percentage of what passengers pay. However, she believes there is still a long way to go until she and her family are financially stable. She believes the whole system is messed up, as it is difficult to make a living even with minimum wage jobs.
If you are a rideshare driver struggling to pay bills, you can share your story by reaching out to [email protected].